Oyster-tongs



(No Model.)

P. PASOHEN. OYSTER TONGS.

' Patented Sept. 15,-1896.

,4 TTORNEYJ IINTTED STATES PATENT Urrrcn- FREDERICK PASOHEN, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR OF QNE-HALF TO HERMAN S. FRIEDMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

OYSTER-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,791, dated September 15, 1896.

Application filed February 1, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK PASCHEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tampa, county of Hillsborough and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oyster-Tongs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to oyster-tongs such as are usually employed in gathering oysters and other like shellfish, sponges, coral, (be.

and it consists of certain improvements 011 the construction described and claimed in the United States Patent No. 552, 7 7 2, granted to me January 7, 1896.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved tongs, showing the same wide open and ready for use, and showing also a part of the construction in section and a part of the handle thereof connected therewith; Fig. 2, a similar view showingthe parts in a different position and showing the tongs closed; and Fig. 3 a front View of the tongs as shown in Fig. 2.

In the practice of my invention I provide a tube A, in the lower end of which is mounted a vertically-movable cylindrical or tubular head 13, to the lower end of which is secured a transverse bar 0, which is provided with a plurality of downwardly-projecting and outwardly-curved teeth 0 and the ends of the transverse bar C are provided with outwardly-projecting arms D, which are preferably segmental in form, and pivotally connected with each of the arms D is a similar arm E, the outer ends of which are connected by bar F, which is parallel with the bar C, and the bar F is provided with a plurality of downwardlyprojecting and backwardly'curved teeth G, and the teeth 0 and G are closed in the position shown in Figs. 2 and}, constituting a basket, and the arms D and E are provided with downwardly-projecting prongs or teeth which serve to close the end of the basket.

Secured to the cross-bar F are backwardly and inwardly curved plates or arms K, the

$erial No. 577,738. (No model.)

in the tube A in the upper end of the tube or head B, and between the upper end of the lever L and the tube A is placed a platespring M, which operates to force the upper end of the lever L outwardly and the lower end thereof inwardly, and connected with the upper end of the lever L is an operating-line O, which is carried upwardly to the end of the handle I, which is secured in the end of the tube A in any desired manner.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement thereof.

It will be understood that this device is operated from the deck of a vessel in the usual manner. The prongs are first set in the position shown in Fig. 1, after which they are lowered into the water by means of the handle key, which may be of any desired length. The bar 0 and the teeth 0 connected therewith constitute a stationary jaw which serves as a rake to gather up the oysters or other articles, and the bar F and the teeth G connected therewith constitute a supplemental or pivoted jaw which serves to retain the oysters or other articles in position when raising them from the bottom, and in operation the teeth G are pressed upon the bottom, whereby the oysters, shellfish, or other articles are located and dragged along until the pressure thereon indicates to the operator that a sufficient amount is collected on the teeth 0 At this time the guard or line 0 is operated to release the lever L or the lower end thereof from its connection with the tube or head B, when the bar F and the teeth G connected therewith immediately drop into the position shown in Fig. 2, and in this position the teeth 0 G, and II form a basket in which the oysters or other articles are securely retained while they are being raised and deposited on the deck of the vessel, and this operation may be continued. or repeated as often as desired.

In the operation of raising the oysters, as above described, the tube or head D drops into the position shown in Fig. as do also the arms K and the arm and lever is, and, as will be understood, the weight of the load within the basket will be suificient to keep the tongs closed.

This device is simple in construction and operation and well adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and at the same time is comparatively inexpensive and is not liable to get out of order orneed repair.

It is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes in and modilications thereof as fairly come within the scope of theinvention.

This invention is an improvement upon the patent foroyster-tongs granted to me January 7, 1896, No. 552,772, and consists mainly in the means by which the movable portion of the tongs shown in the drawings is operated in the act of opening and closing the tongs, which is much simpler, easier, and effective than the means shown in my said patent.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The oyster-tongs as herein described, consisting of two parts or sections the first being a tube, a handle connected with the upper end thereof, the lower end being secured to a cross-bar provided with a plurality of downwardly-directed and outwardly-curved teeth: the other section of the tongs being a vertically-movable tube mounted on that above described, to which at its lower end by means of pivoted side arms is secured asupplemental cross-bar also pivoted to the other cross-bar by a rod or link and also like it provided with teeth or tines downwardly directed and backwardly curved, the action of the supplemental cross-bar and depending teeth being controlled and when desired the tongs held open by a spring-lever pivoted to the upper end of the outertu be and provided with an inwardlydirected projection which is adapted to pass through a hole or opening formed in both the inner and outer tubing and having a guard or other device connected with said lever by which it is operated, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 31st day of Januuary, 1896.

FREDERICK PASCIIEN.

Witnesses:

M. MAOLEAN, B. McCoMB. 

